US20120074637A1 - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents
Image recording apparatus Download PDFInfo
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- US20120074637A1 US20120074637A1 US13/075,924 US201113075924A US2012074637A1 US 20120074637 A1 US20120074637 A1 US 20120074637A1 US 201113075924 A US201113075924 A US 201113075924A US 2012074637 A1 US2012074637 A1 US 2012074637A1
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- sheet
- guide surface
- roller
- path section
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Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
- B65H5/06—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by rollers or balls, e.g. between rollers
- B65H5/062—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by rollers or balls, e.g. between rollers between rollers or balls
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
- B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
- B65H3/0684—Rollers or like rotary separators on moving support, e.g. pivoting, for bringing the roller or like rotary separator into contact with the pile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
- B65H5/36—Article guides or smoothers, e.g. movable in operation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
- B65H7/02—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H9/00—Registering, e.g. orientating, articles; Devices therefor
- B65H9/004—Deskewing sheet by abutting against a stop, i.e. producing a buckling of the sheet
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
- B65H2402/40—Details of frames, housings or mountings of the whole handling apparatus
- B65H2402/44—Housings
- B65H2402/441—Housings movable for facilitating access to area inside the housing, e.g. pivoting or sliding
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
- B65H2404/60—Other elements in face contact with handled material
- B65H2404/61—Longitudinally-extending strips, tubes, plates, or wires
- B65H2404/611—Longitudinally-extending strips, tubes, plates, or wires arranged to form a channel
- B65H2404/6111—Longitudinally-extending strips, tubes, plates, or wires arranged to form a channel and shaped for curvilinear transport path
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2405/00—Parts for holding the handled material
- B65H2405/30—Other features of supports for sheets
- B65H2405/33—Compartmented support
- B65H2405/332—Superposed compartments
- B65H2405/3322—Superposed compartments discharge tray superposed to feed tray
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/20—Location in space
- B65H2511/22—Distance
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/30—Numbers, e.g. of windings or rotations
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/40—Identification
- B65H2511/414—Identification of mode of operation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/40—Identification
- B65H2511/416—Identification of material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/50—Occurence
- B65H2511/51—Presence
- B65H2511/514—Particular portion of element
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
- B65H2513/40—Movement
- B65H2513/41—Direction of movement
- B65H2513/412—Direction of rotation of motor powering the handling device
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2553/00—Sensing or detecting means
- B65H2553/51—Encoders, e.g. linear
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
- B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
- B65H2701/13—Parts concerned of the handled material
- B65H2701/131—Edges
- B65H2701/1311—Edges leading edge
Abstract
Description
- This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2010-216007 and No. 2010-216010 filed on Sep. 27, 2010, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
- The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus provided with a curve-shaped conveyance path along which a sheet is to be conveyed by a pair of rollers disposed in the curve-shaped conveyance path.
- In an image recording apparatus that is capable of recording image on a sheet, commonly, a sheet conveyance path is provided with at least one pair of rollers that are disposed in the sheet conveyance path. In such an image recording apparatus, the sheet is conveyed along the sheet conveyance path by the pair of rollers which cooperate to nip the sheet therebetween. In most cases, the pair of rollers consist of a drive roller and a driven roller.
- Further, in most cases, the sheet conveyance path of the image recording apparatus includes a curved path section in the interest of reducing an overall size of the apparatus. Where the sheet conveyance path includes a curved path section, the sheet conveyance path has a generally U shape as a whole so that the sheet conveyed along the sheet conveyance path is caused to make a U turn. In this case, at least one pair of the above-described at least one pair of rollers are disposed in the curved path section of the sheet conveyance path.
- Further, in some cases, the image recording apparatus has a pivotable arm and a supplying roller. The pivotable arm is disposed above a tray that is configured to hold a sheet, and is pivotable about its fulcrum whereby a distal end portion of the arm is vertically displaceable. The supplying roller is provided in the distal end portion of the arm, and is to rotated for supplying the sheet from the tray to the sheet conveyance path.
- In an image recording apparatus having a supplying roller and a pair of rollers that are disposed in a curve-shaped conveyance path, normally, a sheet is supplied by the supplying roller from a tray to the pair of rollers, and then, when the sheet has reached the pair of rollers, the pair of rollers are rotated (more precisely, a drive roller as one of the rollers is driven) while rotation of the supplying roller is stopped, whereby the sheet is conveyed, along the curve-shaped conveyance path, by rotation of the pair of rollers.
- The sheet conveyed by the pair of rollers is caused to collide at its leading end portion with a guide surface defined by a section of the curve-shaped conveyance path which is located on a downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of the pair of rollers. Since the guide surface is curved, the sheet having been caused to collide at its leading end portion with the guide surface becomes bent along the curved guide surface, as the sheet is further conveyed along the curve-shaped conveyance path, so that the sheet is brought into contact at one of its opposite faces with the guide surface. As a result of the contact of the sheet with the guide surface, the sheet receives an opposite force acting in a direction opposite to a sheet conveyance direction in which the sheet is conveyed. This opposite force is increased with increase of an area of a contact portion of the surface of the sheet which is in contact with the guide surface. When the opposite force is larger than a conveying force that forces the sheet to be conveyed along the conveyance path, the sheet is not conveyed in spite of rotation of the drive roller. In this instance, a rolling surface of the drive roller is caused to slip on the surface of the sheet, and the rolling surface of the drive roller is deteriorated by the slipping with the surface of the sheet. There is a possibility that the surface of the sheet could be affected by the thus deteriorated rolling surface of the drive roller as a result of the contact of the surface of the sheet with the deteriorated rolling surface. There is a risk that it would be impossible to satisfactorily record image on such a negatively influenced surface of the sheet, namely, it would be impossible to obtain satisfactory quality of the image record image on such a negatively influenced surface of the sheet.
- Further, in the image recording apparatus, where the apparatus is provided with a plurality of pairs of rollers which are arranged at a given pitch in a direction of width of the sheet (that is to be conveyed along the sheet conveyance path), the sheet is to be nipped by the plurality of pairs of rollers, namely, nipped between the drive rollers and the driven rollers. The pairs of rollers are likely to be different from each other with respect to a nipping force, i.e., a force by which the sheet is to be nipped between the drive and driven rollers of each pair of rollers. This means that there is a risk that the sheet would be nipped by the force that is not constant over the entire width of the sheet. Particularly, where there is a difference between the pairs of rollers that nip widthwise opposite end portions of the sheet, with respect to the nipping force, the sheet could be move or conveyed in a direction inclined with respect to the sheet conveyance path.
- It might be possible to prevent the sheet from being conveyed in the inclined direction, by employing an arrangement in which the pairs of rollers are disposed only in central or intermediate positions corresponding to a central or intermediate portion of the sheet in the sheet width direction, without the pairs of rollers being disposed in opposite end positions corresponding to opposite end portions of the sheet in the sheet width direction.
- However, in this arrangement in which the drive and drive rollers are disposed only in the central or intermediate positions, the drive rollers are not mounted on longitudinally opposite end portions of the shaft, so that the opposite end portions of the sheet are not nipped by the pairs of rollers, namely, so that movements of the opposite end portions of the sheet are not limited by any means.
- Further, where the pairs of rollers are disposed in a curved path section of the sheet conveyance path, the widthwise opposite end portions of the sheet, which are not nipped by the pairs of rollers, are bent outwardly by a certain degree of angle with respect to the sheet conveyance direction. Therefore, where the drive rollers are disposed on a side of the outside guide surface, the widthwise opposite end portions of the sheet are brought into contact with the longitudinally opposite end portions of the shaft, so that there is a risk that the sheet could be folded or broken.
- The present invention was made in view of the above-described background factors. It is therefore a first object of the invention to provide an image recording apparatus capable of satisfactorily maintaining quality of image recorded on a sheet, by preventing deterioration of a conveying roller provided for conveying the sheet. A second object of the invention is to provide a structure capable of preventing a sheet from being conveyed in a direction inclined with respect to a sheet conveyance direction, without causing a risk of folding or breakage of the sheet.
- The first object of the invention may be achieved according to a first aspect of the invention, which provides an image recording apparatus including: (a) a conveyance path definer including outside and inside guide surfaces which are opposed to each other and which cooperate with each other to define therebetween a conveyance path, along which a sheet is to be conveyed in a sheet conveyance direction while one and the other of opposite side faces of the sheet face the outside and inside guide surfaces, respectively, the conveyance path having a curved path section and a straight path section that is located on a downstream side of the curved path section; (b) a tray configured to hold a sheet; (c) a supplying roller which is to be in contact with the other of the opposite side faces of the sheet held by the tray, and which is configured to supply the sheet from the tray toward the curved path section of the conveyance path; (d) a pair of conveying rollers which are located in the curved path section of the conveyance path, and which are configured to convey the sheet supplied from the supplying roller, toward the straight path section of the conveyance path, the pair of conveying rollers including a drive roller and a driven roller, the drive roller being rotatable by a drive force transmitted thereto and disposed on a side of the outside guide surface so as to be brought into contact with the one of the opposite side faces of the sheet, the driven roller being opposed to the drive roller and disposed on a side of the inside guide surface so as to be brought into contact with the other of the opposite side faces of the sheet; (e) a recording portion which is located in the straight path section of the conveyance path, and which is disposed on a side of the outside guide surface so as to record image on the one of the opposite side faces of the sheet; and (f) a controlling portion which is configured to control the supplying roller and the drive roller, (g) wherein the outside guide surface includes a sheet supporting portion constituted by a flat surface which faces the curved section and which extends away from the drive roller toward the straight path section, the image recording apparatus further including: (h) a judging portion configured to make judgment relating to a position of a leading end portion of the sheet, (i) wherein the controlling portion is configured, upon receipt of a command requesting start of conveyance of the sheet, to cause the supplying roller to be rotated without causing the drive roller to be rotated, and is configured, upon judgment that the leading end portion of the sheet has reached the sheet supporting portion, to cause the drive roller to be rotated.
- The second object of the invention may be achieved according to a second aspect of the invention, which provides a conveying device including: (a) a conveyance path definer including outside and inside guide surfaces which are opposed to each other and which cooperate with each other to define therebetween a curved conveyance path along which a sheet is to be conveyed in a sheet conveyance direction; (b) a pair of support members disposed outside respective opposite ends of the curved conveyance path in a first direction which is perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction and which is parallel to a direction of width of the curved conveyance path; (c) a shaft disposed on a side of the outside guide surface, and located in a position which is more distant from the inside guide surface than from the outside guide surface in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the sheet conveyance direction, the shaft being rotatably supported at opposite end portions thereof by the support members; (d) a first roller disposed on a non-end portion of the shaft in the first direction, and rotatable together with the shaft; (e) a second roller disposed on a side of the inside guide surface, and opposed to the first roller such that the first roller and the second roller cooperate to convey the sheet by nipping the sheet therebetween; (f) a pair of guide-surface members disposed on respective non-central portions of the shaft in the first direction, each of the guide-surface members having a sheet guide surface, (g) wherein the non-central portions of the shaft are located on respective opposite sides of the non-end portion of the shaft in the first direction, and (h) wherein a distance between the inside guide surface and the sheet guide surface is smaller than a distance between the inside guide surface and the shaft. It is noted that this second aspect of the invention may be carried out with combination of the above-described first aspect of the invention.
- The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of acompound machine 10 that is constructed according a first embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view schematically showing an internal construction of aprinter unit 11 that is included in thecompound machine 10; -
FIG. 3 is a view schematically showing atransmission selector 110 and first and second drive-force transmission mechanisms compound machine 10; -
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the internal construction of theprinter unit 11; -
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a construction of a controllingportion 130 included in thecompound machine 10; -
FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a conveyance control routine that is to be executed by the controllingportion 130; -
FIG. 7A is a cross sectional view showing a part of anoutside guide member 17 where a plurality of rectangular-shaped ribs are provided on anoutside guide surface 17A; -
FIG. 7B is a cross sectional view showing a part of anoutside guide member 17 where a plurality of triangular-shaped ribs are provided on anoutside guide surface 17A; -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of acompound machine 210 that is constructed according a first embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view schematically showing an internal construction of aprinter unit 211 that is included in thecompound machine 210; -
FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view showing the internal construction of theprinter unit 211; -
FIG. 11 is a rear view showing anoutside guide member 217 andthird conveying rollers 256 of thecompound machine 210; -
FIG. 12A is a cross sectional view taken alongline 12A-12A inFIG. 11 ; -
FIG. 12B is a cross sectional view taken alongline 12B-12B inFIG. 11 ; -
FIG. 12C is a cross sectional view taken alongline 12C-12C inFIG. 11 ; -
FIG. 13 is view schematically showing atransmission selector 310 and first and second drive-force transmission mechanisms compound machine 210; -
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a construction of a controllingportion 330 included in thecompound machine 210; -
FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a conveyance control routine that is to be executed by the controllingportion 330; -
FIG. 16A is a cross sectional view showing a part of anoutside guide member 217 where a plurality of rectangular-shaped ribs are provided on anoutside guide surface 217A; -
FIG. 16B is a cross sectional view showing a part of anoutside guide member 217 where a plurality of triangular-shaped ribs are provided on anoutside guide surface 217A; -
FIG. 17A is a view showing a boundary between acurved path section 66 and astraight path section 67 of asheet conveyance path 65, wherein a flat surface is not provided in thecurved path section 66; and -
FIG. 17B is a view showing the boundary between thecurved path section 66 and thestraight path section 67 of thesheet conveyance path 65, wherein theflat surface 22 is not provided in thecurved path section 66. - There will be described embodiments of the present invention, by reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the embodiments will be described for illustrative purpose only and that the invention may be embodied with various changes, modifications and improvements, which may occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is further noted that, in the following description, there will be used terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “front” and “rear” directions of a
compound machine 10 which are directions as seen inFIG. 1 , and which are indicated by respective arrows “UP”, “DOWN”, “RIGHT”, “LEFT”, “FRONT” and “REAR” in the drawings. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , thecompound machine 10, which is an example of an image recording apparatus according to the invention, has a generally rectangular parallelepiped body with a low profile. An opening 13 is provided in a front portion of themachine 10, and a inkjet-type printer unit 11 is provided in a lower portion of themachine 10. Thecompound machine 10 has various functions such as facsimile and printer functions. In the present first embodiment, although theprinter unit 11 is capable of performing an one-side recording operation, theprinter unit 11 may be modified to have a function of performing a both-side recording operation. Theprinter unit 11 has ahousing body 14 in which the opening 13 opens in its front face, so that a sheet supply tray 20 (as an example of a tray) and asheet exit tray 21 can be introduced into and removed from an inner space of themachine 10 via the opening 13, by moving thetrays arrows 8. In thesheet supply tray 20, recording sheets (as examples of sheets) of desired sizes can be stacked or held. It is noted thatarrows 7 indicate an up-down direction and thatarrows 9 indicate a right-left direction. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , theprinter unit 11 includes asheet supplying portion 15 configured to supply the recording sheets, and a recording portion 24 (as an example of a recording portion) configured to record image on each of the recording sheets by ejecting ink onto each recording sheet. Thus, theprinter unit 11 is configured to record, on the recording sheet, image based on a print data transmitted from an external device. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , thesheet supplying portion 15 is located on an upper side of thesheet supply tray 20. Thesheet supplying portion 15 includes a sheet supplying roller 25 (as an example of a supplying roller), apivotable arm 26 and a first drive-force transmitting mechanism 27 (as an example of a first transmission mechanism) that is constituted principally by a plurality of gears meshing with each other. Thesheet supplying roller 25 is held at its shaft by a distal end portion of thepivotable arm 26. Thepivotable arm 26 is pivotable about a shaft 28 (that is provided in a proximal end portion of the arm 26) in directions indicated byarrows 29. With pivot motion of thearm 26, thesheet supplying roller 25 can be brought into contact with thesheet supply tray 20 and can be separated from thesheet supply tray 20, namely, thesheet supplying roller 25 can be displaced toward and away from thesheet supply tray 20. Thus, thesheet supplying roller 25 can be brought into contact with the recording sheet held in thesheet supply tray 20. Thesheet supplying roller 25 is rotatable by a drive force that is transmitted from a second drive motor 102 (as an example of a drive source) (seeFIG. 3 ) via the first drive-force transmitting mechanism 27. Thesheet supplying roller 25 is to be held in contact with an uppermost one of the recording sheets stacked in thesheet supply tray 20, and is configured to separate the uppermost sheet from the other sheets so as to supply the sheet to a curved path section (U-turn section) 66 of asheet conveyance path 65. - In an arrangement where the recording sheet is to be supplied to the
curved path section 66 of thesheet conveyance path 65 by thesheet supplying roller 25, as shown inFIG. 2 , one of opposite side surfaces of the recording sheet is caused to be face anoutside guide surface 17A, while the other of the opposite side surfaces of the recording sheet (with which thesheet supplying roller 25 has been in contact) is caused to face aninside guide surface 19A. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , theprinter unit 11 defines therein the sheet conveyance path 65 (as an example of a conveyance path) which is configured to guide the recording sheet to be conveyed from an end (i.e., rear end portion) of thesheet supply tray 20 to thesheet exit tray 21 via therecording portion 24. - The
sheet conveyance path 65 is sectioned into the above-described curved path section 66 (as an example of a curved path section) extending from the end of thesheet supply tray 20 to first pairs ofrollers 58, and a straight path section 67 (as an example of a straight path section) extending from the first pairs ofrollers 58 to thesheet exit tray 21 via a region right below therecording portion 24. That is, in thesheet conveyance path 65, thecurved path section 66 and thestraight path section 67 are disposed. - The
curved path section 66 is a curved path extending from a vicinity of the end of thesheet supply tray 20 to the first pairs ofrollers 58. While being in thecurved path section 66, the recording sheet is caused to be bent and guided so as to be conveyed curvedly along a sheet conveyance path (indicated by one-dot chain line inFIG. 2 ) in a sheet conveyance direction (indicated by arrows disposed on the one-dot chain line inFIG. 2 ). Thecurved path section 66 and thestraight path section 67 are connected to each other, with the first pairs ofrollers 58 being disposed at the connection between thecurved path section 66 and thestraight path section 67. Thus, the recording sheet is guided by thecurved path section 66 to thestraight path section 67 which is located on a downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of thecurved path section 66. Thecurved path section 66 is defined between aninside guide member 19 and anoutside guide member 17 which are opposed to each other and are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. In other words, thecurved path section 66 is defined between theinside guide surface 19A (as an example of an inside guide surface) and theoutside guide surface 17A (as an example of an outside guide surface) which are constituted by a rear surface of theinside guide member 19 and a front surface of theoutside guide member 17, respectively. Thecurved path section 66 is curved to be convex in a direction toward the a side of theoutside guide surface 17A away from the side of theinside guide surface 19A. - It is noted that the
outside guide surface 17A is a generally curved surface except its portion that is constituted by aflat surface 22, which is described below. - Each of the
inside guide surface 19A and theoutside guide surface 17A may be constituted by either a single surface or a plurality of surfaces. In an arrangement where each of the guide surfaces 19A, 17A is constituted by a plurality of surfaces, for example, a plurality of ribs may be provided to extend along thesheet conveyance path 65 and protrude from theinside guide surface 19A and/or theoutside guide surface 17A toward thesheet conveyance path 65. In this arrangement, distal end faces of the respective ribs constitute respective surfaces, so that theinside guide surface 19A and/or theoutside guide surface 17A are constituted by the plurality of surfaces. - The
straight path section 67 is a straight path extending in the front-rear direction 8 from the first pairs ofrollers 58, i.e., a downstream end, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of thecurved path section 66, to thesheet exit tray 21. While being in thestraight path section 67, the recording sheet is caused to be guided so as to be conveyed straightly along the sheet conveyance path (indicated by two-dot chain line inFIG. 2 ) in the sheet conveyance direction (indicated by arrows disposed on the two-dot chain line inFIG. 2 ). After being subjected to a recording operation carried out by therecording portion 24, the sheet is discharged to thesheet exit tray 21. Therecording portion 24 faces a region of thestraight path section 67 which is defined between the recordingportion 24 and aplaten 42 that are opposed to each other and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. Another region of thestraight path section 67, which therecording portion 24 does not face, is defined between an upper-side guide member 52 and a lower-side guide member 53 that are opposed to each other and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. In other words, like thecurved path section 66, thestraight path section 67 is defined between an upper-side guide surface 52A (as an example of the outside guide surface) and a lower-side guide surface 53A (as an example of the inside guide surface) which are constituted by a lower surface of the upper-side guide member 52 and an upper surface of the lower-side guide member 53, respectively. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , therecording portion 24 is disposed on an upper side of thestraight path section 67 of thesheet conveyance path 65, i.e., on a side of the upper-side guide surface 52A of thestraight path section 67. Therecording portion 24 includes arecording head 38 and acarriage 40 which carries therecording head 38 and which is to be reciprocated in a main scanning direction (i.e., direction perpendicular to drawing sheet ofFIG. 2 ). Therecording head 38 is configured to receive inks that are to be supplied from ink cartridges (not shown), and to eject the inks in the form of small ink droplets throughnozzles 39. With thecarriage 40 being reciprocated in the main scanning direction, therecording head 38 is caused to scan the recording sheet, whereby image is recorded onto the recording sheet which is supported on theplaten 42 while being conveyed along the sheet conveyance path. It is noted that theplaten 42 is disposed on a lower side of thestraight path section 67 and is opposed to therecording portion 24. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , the first pairs ofrollers 58 are disposed on an upstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of therecording portion 24. Each pair of the first pairs ofrollers 58 consist of a first conveyingroller 60 which is disposed on an upper side of the sheet conveyance path 65 (i.e., upper side of thecurved path section 66 and straight path section 67) and apinch roller 61 which is disposed on a lower side of the sheet conveyance path 65 (i.e., lower side of thecurved path section 66 and straight path section 67). Thepinch roller 61 is biased by a biasing member (not shown) such as a spring, and is held in pressing contact with a rolling surface of the first conveyingroller 60. The first pairs ofrollers 58 are configured to nip the recording sheet, and to feed the recording sheet onto theplaten 42. - Further, as shown in
FIG. 2 , second pairs ofrollers 59 are disposed on a downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of therecording portion 24. Each pair of the second pairs ofrollers 59 consist of a second conveyingroller 62 which is disposed on a lower side of the sheet conveyance path 65 (i.e., lower side of the straight path section 67) and a spur roller (rowel) 63 which is disposed on an upper side of the sheet conveyance path 65 (i.e., upper side of the straight path section 67). Thespur roller 63 is biased by a biasing member (not shown) such as a spring, and is held in pressing contact with a rolling surface of the second conveyingroller 62. The second pairs ofrollers 59 are configured to nip the recording sheet having passed therecording portion 24, and to convey the recording sheet to thesheet exit tray 21. - Each of the first and second conveying
rollers FIG. 5 ). When thefirst drive motor 103 is rotated in one of forward and reverse directions, the recording sheet is conveyed in the sheet conveyance direction. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , third pairs of rollers 55 (each pair of which is as an example of a pair of conveying rollers) are disposed on an upstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of the first pairs ofrollers 58. Each pair of the third pairs ofrollers 55 consist of a third conveying roller 56 (as an example of a drive roller) which is disposed on a side of theoutside guide surface 17A and a pinch roller 57 (as an example of a driven roller) which is disposed on a side of theinside guide surface 19A. Eachpinch roller 57 is opposed to the corresponding third conveyingroller 56, and is biased by a biasing member (not shown) such as a spring so as to be held in pressing contact with a rolling surface of the corresponding third conveyingroller 56. The third pairs ofrollers 55 are configured to nip the recording sheet and to convey the recording sheet toward the first pairs ofrollers 58. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , thesheet supplying roller 25 is rotated when a rotary drive force is transmitted thereto from thesecond drive motor 102 via a transmission selector 110 (as an example of a transmission selector) and the first drive-force transmitting mechanism 27, namely, when thetransmission selector 110 selects the first drive-force transmitting mechanism 27 for thereby causing the rotary drive force to be transmitted via the selected first drive-force transmitting mechanism 27 to thesheet supplying roller 25. On the other hand, the third conveyingroller 56 is rotated when the rotary drive force is transmitted thereto from thesecond drive motor 102 via thetransmission selector 110 and a second drive-force transmitting mechanism 115 (as an example of a second transmission mechanism), namely, when thetransmission selector 110 selects the second drive-force transmitting mechanism 115 for thereby causing the rotary drive force to be transmitted via the selected second drive-force transmitting mechanism 115 to the third conveyingroller 56. It is noted that the second drive-force transmitting mechanism 115 is constituted by a plurality of gears meshing with each other. - The
transmission selector 110 includes asun gear 113 and aplanet gear 114. Thesun gear 113 meshes with anintermediate gear 44 that is configured to transmit the rotary drive force from thesecond drive motor 102. Theplanet gear 114 is to be rotated while being revolved around thesun gear 113. When thesecond drive motor 102 is rotated in a reverse direction (indicated byarrow 117 inFIG. 3 ), theplanet gear 114 is revolved around thesun gear 113 so as to be positioned in a position (indicated bybroken line 114 inFIG. 3 ) in which theplanet gear 114 is caused to mesh with one of the gears constituting the second drive-force transmitting mechanism 115. On the other hand, when thesecond drive motor 102 is rotated in a forward direction (indicated byarrow 116 inFIG. 3 ), theplanet gear 114 is revolved around thesun gear 113 so as to be positioned in a position (indicated bysolid line 114 inFIG. 3 ) in which theplanet gear 114 is caused to mesh with one of the gears constituting the first drive-force transmitting mechanism 27. Owing to this construction, thetransmission selector 110 is configured, when thesecond drive motor 102 is rotated in the forward direction, to transmit the rotary drive force from thesecond drive motor 102 to thesheet supplying roller 25, and is configured, when thesecond drive motor 102 is rotated in the reverse direction, to transmit the rotary drive force from thesecond drive motor 102 to the third conveyingroller 56. In other words, thetransmission selector 110 is configured to select, based on the direction of rotation of thesecond drive motor 102, one of the first and second drive-force transmitting mechanisms force transmitting mechanisms sheet supplying roller 25 and the third conveyingroller 56. - The third conveying
roller 56 is arranged to be freely rotatable in a state in which the rotary drive force is not transmitted thereto from thesecond drive motor 102, i.e., in a state in which theplanet gear 114 does not mesh with the gear of the second drive-force transmitting mechanism 115. Owing to this arrangement, the third conveyingroller 56 can be rotated together with conveyance of the recording sheet, when the recording sheet is further conveyed by thesheet supplying roller 25 after having been brought into contact with the third conveyingroller 56. - As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4 , a major part of theoutside guide surface 17A of theoutside guide member 17 is curved to define thecurved path section 66. However, the flat surface 22 (as an example of a sheet supporting portion constituted by a flat surface) is provided on an immediately downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of aposition 17B in which the third conveyingroller 56 is disposed. Theposition 17B corresponds to a downstream end, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of a recessedportion 64. The recessedportion 64 is provided for receiving therein a shaft of the third conveyingroller 56. - The
flat surface 22 may extend from theposition 17B either to a downstream end, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of thecurved path section 66, or to a midway position located on an upstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of the downstream end of thecurved path section 66. In the present first embodiment, theflat surface 22 is constituted by a portion of theoutside guide surface 17A, which extends from theposition 17B to aposition 17C that is substantially the center between the third pairs ofrollers 55 and the first pairs ofrollers 58. Meanwhile, theoutside guide surface 17A includes a curved portion that is located on a downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of theposition 17C. - The
flat surface 22 extends from theposition 17B in a forward and upward direction. Described specifically, a front end portion (i.e., a downstream end portion) of theflat surface 22 is located on an upper side of a rear end portion (i.e., an upstream end portion) of theflat surface 22. In other words, a height position of theflat surface 22 is increased as theflat surface 22 extends forwardly. Theoutside guide surface 17A includes, in addition to the sheet supporting portion in the form of theflat surface 22, an upstream-side non-flat portion and an downstream-side non-flat portion which are located on upstream and downstream sides of theflat surface 22, wherein a direction of a tangent line tangent to theoutside guide surface 17A is changed at a boundary between theflat surface 22 and the downstream-side non-flat portion by a degree smaller than a degree by which the direction of the tangent line is changed at a boundary between theflat surface 22 and the upstream-side non-flat portion. - As described above, the
outside guide surface 17A may be constituted by a plurality of surfaces. Therefore, theflat surface 22, which constitutes a portion of theoutside guide surface 17A, may be consisted by a plurality of surfaces. For example, a plurality of ribs may be provided to extend along thesheet conveyance path 65 and protrude from theflat surface 22 toward thesheet conveyance path 65. In this arrangement, distal end faces of the respective ribs constitute respective surfaces, so that theflat surface 22 is constituted by the plurality of surfaces. - In the present first embodiment, each of the ribs has a rectangular shape in its cross section as shown in
FIG. 7A . However, the cross sectional shape of each of the ribs does not have to be rectangular but may be triangular as shown inFIG. 7B . In this case ofFIG. 7B , each rib has a sharp-pointed distal end portion. That is, the distal end face of each rib has a generally linear shape or an elongated shape. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , theprinter unit 11 has a judging portion 120 (as an example of a judging portion) including a detector 121 (as an example of a leading-end-portion detector) and a rotary encoder 122 (as an example of a rotation-amount detector). Thedetector 121 is configured to detect a leading end portion of the sheet which has been supplied from thesheet supply tray 20 and which is being conveyed along thecurved path section 66. Therotary encoder 122 is configured to detect an amount of rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25. It is noted that the judgingportion 120 is not represented inFIG. 4 . - The
detector 121 is disposed on an upstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of the third pairs ofrollers 55 in thecurved path section 66. Thedetector 121 is constituted by, for example, arotatable body 112 and alight sensor 111 such as a photo interrupter having a light emitting element (e.g., light emitting diode) and a light receiving element (e.g., photo transistor) that is configured to receive the light emitted from the light emitting element. Therotatable body 112 has detectingelements support shaft 123. The detectingelement 112A protrudes toward thecurved path section 66 away from thesupport shaft 123. In a state in which an external force is not being applied to therotatable body 112, the detectingelement 112B is introduced into a light path that extends from the light emitting element to the light receiving element, so as to interrupt a light passing along the light path. When therotatable body 112 is forced by the distal end portion of the recording sheet, therotatable body 112 is rotated whereby the detectingelement 112B is displaced away from the light path so that the light is allowed to pass along the light path. - The
rotary encoder 122 is constituted principally by anoptical sensor 125 and anencoder disk 124 which is attached to theshaft 28 so as to be rotatable together with each other. Theencoder disk 124 has light transmitting portions and light non-transmitting portions which are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction of thedisk 124 and are equi-angularly spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. During rotation of theencoder disk 124 together with theshaft 28, a pulse signal is generated when each one of the light transmitting portions or each one of the light non-transmitting portions is detected by theoptical sensor 125. The generated pulse signal is supplied to a controllingportion 130 described below. The controllingportion 130 is configured to detect, based on the pulse signal supplied from therotary encoder 122, an amount of drive of thesheet supplying roller 25, i.e., an amount of rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25. - There will be described an outline configuration of the controlling portion 130 (as an example of a controlling portion). The invention is realized by execution of a conveyance control routine (represented by a flow chart of
FIG. 6 ) by the controllingportion 130. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , the controllingportion 130 is configured to control activations of the entirety of thecompound machine 10. The controllingportion 130 is a microcomputer constituted principally byCPU 131,ROM 132,RAM 133,EEPROM 134 andASIC 135 which are connected to one another via aninternal bus 137. - The
ROM 132 is provided for storing therein various programs, according to which theCPU 131 controls activations such as sheet conveyance performed in thecompound machine 10. TheRAM 133 is provided for serving as a working area or a storage area for temporarily storing various data therein. TheEEPROM 134 is provided for storing therein setting information, flag or the like which is to be maintained even after power OFF of thecompound machine 10. - The
ASIC 135 has drive circuits for controlling the first andsecond drive motors ASIC 135. When each of the drive circuits of theASIC 135 receives, from theCPU 131, a drive signal for rotating a corresponding one of themotors portion 130 is configured to control the first andsecond drive motors - Further, to the
ASIC 135, the pulse signal outputted by therotary encoder 122 is supplied. The controllingportion 130 is configured to calculate amount of rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25, based on the pulse signal supplied from therotary encoder 122. - Further, to the
ASIC 135, there is connected the above-describedlight sensor 111 configured to output an analog electric signal (voltage signal or current signal) that is based on an intensity of the light received by the light receiving element. The outputted analog electrical signal is inputted to the controllingportion 130 in which it is judged whether an electric level (voltage value or current value) represented by the analog electrical signal is not lower than a predetermined threshold. When it is judged that the inputted analog electrical signal is not lower than the predetermined threshold, the signal is regarded as HIGH-level signal. When it is judged that the inputted analog electrical signal is lower than the predetermined threshold, the signal is regarded as LOW-level signal. Thus, the controllingportion 130 is configured to judge whether or not the leading end portion of the recording sheet has reached thedetector 121. - The controlling
portion 130 is configured to start counting the amount of rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25, at a point of time at which the controllingportion 130 judges that the leading end portion of the recording sheet has reached thedetector 121. In this instance, the controllingportion 130 judges, based on the analog electrical signal supplied from thelight sensor 111, that the leading end portion of the recording sheet has reached thedetector 121. Then, the controllingportion 130 counts the amount of rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25, based on the pulse signal supplied from therotary encoder 122. The controllingportion 130 is configured to determine a current position of the leading end portion of the recording sheet, based on a length of time having passed after the above-described point of time (at which the controllingportion 130 judges that the leading end portion of the recording sheet has reached the detector 121) and also the counted amount of rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25. - The determination of the current position of the leading end portion of the recording sheet does not necessarily have to be made according to the above-described method, but may be made according to other method. For example, the controlling
portion 130 may be configured to start counting the amount of rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25, at a point of time at which thesheet supplying roller 25 starts to be rotated. In this modification, the controllingportion 130 can determine the current position of the leading end portion of the recording sheet, based on the amount of rotation which starts to be counted at the point of time of start of the rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25. Further, the leading end portion of the recording sheet may be determined based on a length of time that has passed from the point of time at which thesheet supplying roller 25 starts to be rotated. In these modifications, thedetector 121 is not required for determining the current position of the leading end portion of the recording sheet. - In the
printer unit 11 constructed as described above, the controllingportion 130 is configured to execute the conveyance control routine, for supplying a recording sheet and conveying the recording sheet along thesheet conveyance path 65. Referring to the flow chart ofFIG. 7 , there will be described the conveyance control routine as an example of procedure for controlling conveyance of the recording sheet. - When an image recording command (as an example of a command requesting start of conveyance of a sheet) is inputted to the
compound machine 10 through an external device or an operator's control panel 18 (seeFIG. 1 ), the conveyance control routine is initiated with step S10 in which the controllingportion 130 determines a type of the recording sheet that is to be subjected to an image recording by the image recording command. For example, before the image recording command is inputted to thecompound machine 10, the controllingportion 130 may make a reference to information (corresponding to information representing type of the sheet) representing whether the recording sheet (that is held in thesheet supply tray 20 and is to be subjected to the image recording) is a standard paper, a glossy paper or a thick paper. This information may be included in the image recording command, or may be inputted, independently of the image recording command, via the operator'scontrol panel 18 or the like, by a user. It is noted that, when this information representing type of the sheet is not yet inputted to thecompound machine 10, the controllingportion 130 causes the operator'scontrol panel 18 to display a message requesting the information to be inputted. - When it is judged in step S10 by the controlling
portion 130 that the recording sheet is a glossy paper or a thick paper, the control flow goes to step S20 in which the controllingportion 130 causes thesecond drive motor 102 to be rotated in the forward direction whereby thesheet supplying roller 25 is rotated. In this instance, although the third conveyingroller 56 is placed in its stop state, the third conveyingroller 56 is freely rotatable. Thus, by implementation of step S20, the recording sheet is conveyed by thesheet supplying roller 25 toward the third pairs ofrollers 55. When the recording sheet becomes nipped by the third pairs ofrollers 55, even if the third conveyingroller 56 is not being rotated by thesecond drive motor 102, the recording sheet can be further conveyed by thesheet supplying roller 25. - Then, in step S30, the controlling
portion 130 judges whether or not the conveyed recording sheet has passed thedetector 121. This judgment is made based on the level of the signal supplied from thelight sensor 111, as described above. - When it is judged in step S30 that the recording sheet has passed the
detector 121, namely, when a positive judgment (YES) is obtained in step S30, the control flow goes to step S40 that is implemented to count or calculate an amount of rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25. This count or calculation of the amount of rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25 is made based on the pulse signal supplied from therotary encoder 122. - In this step S40, the controlling
portion 130 calculates an amount of conveyance of the recording sheet since the recording sheet has passed thedetector 121. This calculation of the conveyance amount is made based on the amount of rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25 from the point of time at which it is judged in step S30 that the recording sheet has passed thedetector 121. Then, in step S50, the controllingportion 130 judges whether the conveyance amount is larger than a distance from the position of thedetector 121 to the position of the flat surface 22 (e.g., a distance from a nipped position in which the recording sheet is nipped by the third pairs ofrollers 55, to a downstream-side position which is located on a downstream side of the nipped position and which is distant from the nipped position by a predetermined distance). It is noted that the controllingportion 130 may judge whether the conveyance amount is larger than a distance larger than the above-described distance (from the position of thedetector 121 to the position of the flat surface 22) by a predetermined amount. - When the conveyance amount is larger than the above-described distance (from the position of the
detector 121 to the position of the flat surface 22), it is judged by the controllingportion 130 in this step S50 that the leading end portion of the recording sheet has reached theflat surface 22, namely, a positive judgment (YES) is obtained in this step S50. When the positive judgment (YES) is obtained in step S50, the control flow goes to step S60 in which the rotation of thesecond drive motor 102 is switched from the forward direction to the reverse direction whereby rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25 is stopped while the third conveyingroller 56 is rotated by thesecond drive motor 102. Thereafter, the recording sheet is conveyed by the third pairs ofrollers 55. The set of procedures performed in steps S10 through S60 is an example of a first mode. It is noted that, although the rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25 is stopped in step S60 in the present first embodiment, the rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25 may not be stopped in step S60. In this modification, thesheet supplying roller 25 is rotated while the third conveyingroller 56 is not rotated by thesecond drive motor 102 until step S50 (i.e., until the leading end portion of the recording sheet reaches the flat surface 22), and then the third conveyingroller 56 as well as thesheet supplying roller 25 is rotated by thesecond drive motor 102. - On the other hand, when it is judged in step S10 by the controlling
portion 130 that the recording sheet is a standard paper, the controllingportion 130 implements steps S70-110, among which steps S70-S90 are the same as the above-described steps S20-S40. - In step S90, the controlling
portion 130 calculates an amount of conveyance of the recording sheet since the recording sheet has passed thedetector 121. This calculation of the conveyance amount is made based on the amount of rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25 from the point of time at which it is judged in step S80 that the recording sheet has passed thedetector 121. Then, in step S100, the controllingportion 130 judges whether the conveyance amount is larger than a distance from the position of thedetector 121 to the nipped position in which the recording sheet is nipped by the third pairs ofrollers 55. It is noted that the controllingportion 130 may judge whether the conveyance amount is larger than a predetermined distance larger than the above-described distance (from the position of thedetector 121 to the nipped position) by a predetermined amount, as long as the predetermined distance is smaller than a distance from the position of thedetector 121 to the position of theflat surface 22. - When the conveyance amount is larger than the above-described distance (from the position of the
detector 121 to the nipped position), it is judged by the controllingportion 130 in this step S100 that the leading end portion of the recording sheet has reached the nipped position in which the leading end portion of the sheet is nipped by the third pairs ofrollers 55, namely, a positive judgment (YES) is obtained in this step S100. When the positive judgment (YES) is obtained in step S100, the control flow goes to step S110 in which the rotation of thesecond drive motor 102 is switched from the forward direction to the reverse direction whereby rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25 is stopped while the third conveyingroller 56 is rotated by thesecond drive motor 102. Thereafter, the recording sheet is conveyed by the third pairs ofrollers 55. The set of procedures performed in steps S10 and S70 through S110 is an example of a second mode. - As described above, the controlling
portion 130 is configured to carry out a selected one of the first and second modes which is selected based on information representing type of the recording sheet held in thesheet supply tray 20. In other words, the controllingportion 130 is configured to control thesheet supplying roller 25 and the third conveyingroller 56, in accordance with a selected one of first and second modes, which is selected based on the information representing type of the sheet. - The recording sheet, having been conveyed in accordance with the selected first or second mode, is conveyed by the first pairs of
rollers 58, and is subjected to an image recording performed by therecording portion 24. After having been subjected to the image recording, the recording sheet is conveyed by the second pairs ofrollers 59 so as to be discharged to thesheet exit tray 21. - In the above-described first embodiment, the
outside guide surface 17A includes theflat surface 22 which is provided on the immediately downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of theposition 17B in which the third conveyingroller 56 is disposed, such that theflat surface 22 extends from theposition 17B toward thestraight path section 67. In other words, theoutside guide surface 17A includes a non-curved portion in its portion that cooperates with a corresponding portion of theinside guide surface 19A to define thecurved path section 66 therebetween. The recording sheet having passed the third conveyingroller 56 is caused to collide at its leading end portion with theflat surface 22. After collision with theflat surface 22, the recording sheet has be conveyed in a direction that is changed to become parallel with theflat surface 22. Upon change of the direction of the recording sheet, the recording sheet receives an opposite force acting in a direction opposite to the sheet conveyance direction in which the sheet is to be conveyed. However, once after the direction of the recording sheet has been changed, the recording sheet is conveyed with only its leading end portion (i.e., its leading end and vicinity of the leading end) being in contact with theflat surface 22. That is, an area of a surface of the recording sheet, which is in contact with theflat surface 22, is small, so that the opposite force applied from theflat surface 22 to the recording sheet is small. - In the above-described first embodiment, the recording sheet is conveyed by the
sheet supplying roller 25 at least upon change of the direction of the recording sheet, i.e., upon increase of the opposite force acting in the direction opposite to the sheet conveyance direction. In this instance, there is a risk that the rolling surface of thesheet supplying roller 25, which is in contact with a surface of the recording sheet, could slip on the surface of the recording sheet. However, even in occurrence of the slipping, the quality of the image recorded on the recording sheet by therecording portion 24 can be satisfactorily maintained, by the following reasons. - Firstly, in the above-described first embodiment, the
sheet supplying roller 25 is to be in contact with a bottom face of the recording sheet, i.e., the above-described other of the opposite side surfaces of the recording sheet which faces theinside guide surface 19A, while the third conveyingroller 56 is to be in contact with a top face of the recording sheet, i.e., the above-described one of the opposite side surfaces of the recording sheet which faces theoutside guide surface 17A, and therecording portion 24 is configured to record image onto the top face of the recording sheet, i.e., the face of the recording sheet which faces theoutside guide surface 17A. That is, thesheet supplying roller 25 is to be in contact with the bottom face of the recording sheet that is opposite to the top face of the recording sheet onto which the image is to be recorded. - Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the recording sheet is conveyed by the third pairs of
rollers 55 after the change of the direction of the recording sheet, namely, after the opposite force (acting in the direction opposite to the sheet conveyance direction) becomes small. Therefore, there is a low possibility that the rolling surface of the third conveyingroller 56 of each third pair ofrollers 55 slips on the surface of the recording sheet, so that the quality of the image recorded on the surface of the recording sheet by therecording portion 24 can be satisfactorily maintained. - It is common that the opposite force (applied from the
outside guide surface 17A to the recording sheet and acting in the direction opposite to the sheet conveyance direction) is larger where the recording sheet conveyed along thesheet conveyance path 65 is a thick paper (having a rigidity higher than that of a standard paper) than where the recording sheet conveyed along thesheet conveyance path 65 is a standard paper. Therefore, where a thick paper as the recording sheet is conveyed, the rolling surface of the third conveyingroller 56 could slip on the surface of the recording sheet, with a higher possibility than where a standard paper as the recording sheet is conveyed. Further, where the recording sheet conveyed along thesheet conveyance path 65 is a glossy paper or other paper having a special coating disposed on its surface (onto which image is to be recorded), the coating could be negatively affected by contact with the rolling surface of the third conveyingroller 56 if the rolling surface is deteriorated, so that there is a risk that the quality of the image recorded on the coated surface of the recording sheet could be negatively affected. - On the other hand, where the recording sheet conveyed along the
sheet conveyance path 65 is a standard paper or other paper having a low rigidity, the above-described possibilities or risks of slipping of the rolling surface on the surface of the recording sheet and reduction of the image recorded on the surface of the recording sheet are low. Therefore, when the leading end portion of the recording sheet is positioned in the nipped position in which the recording sheet is to be nipped by the third pairs ofrollers 55, if the recording sheet is conveyed by the sheet supplying roller 25 (that is located in an upstream side of the third conveying roller 56) rather than the third conveyingroller 56, there would be arisen a problem that the direction of the recording sheet is likely to be unstable because the leading end portion of the recording sheet is considerably distant from thesheet supplying roller 25. The instability of the direction of the recording sheet could increase a possibility of jamming of the recording sheet in thesheet conveyance path 65. - In the above-described first embodiment, in view of the above tendencies, the controlling
portion 130 is configured to carry out a selected one of the first and second modes which is selected based on information representing type of the recording sheet held in thesheet supply tray 20. For example, in a case where a recording sheet having a high rigidity or a special coating is to be conveyed along thesheet conveyance path 65, the first mode is selected to be carried out, whereby it is possible to reduce the possibilities of slipping of the rolling surface on the recording sheet surface and reduction of the image recorded on the recoding sheet surface. Further, in a case where a recording sheet having a low rigidity is to be conveyed along thesheet conveyance path 65, the second mode is selected to be carried out whereby the conveyance of the recording sheet onto a downstream side of the third pairs ofrollers 55 is made by the third conveying roller 56 (that is closer to the leading end portion of the recording sheet then the sheet supplying roller 25) rather than by thesheet supplying roller 25. It is therefore possible to reduce the possibility of jamming of the recording sheet in thesheet conveyance path 65. - Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the judging
portion 120 includes thedetector 121 and therotary encoder 122, so that the controllingportion 130 is capable of detecting or determining the leading end portion of the recording sheet, since the controllingportion 130 is configured to detect or determine the leading end portion of the recording sheet, based on the amount of drive or rotation of thesheet supplying roller 25, which is measured or detected by therotary encoder 122 after detection of the leading end portion of the recording sheet by thedetector 121. - Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the third conveying
roller 56 and thesheet supplying roller 25 are to be driven or rotated by a common drive source in the form of thesecond drive motor 102. Owing to this arrangement, the number of the drive sources that have to be provided in thecompound machine 10 can be reduced. Consequently, thecompound machine 10 as a whole can be constructed compact in size, and the cost required for manufacturing thecompound machine 10 can be reduced. - Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the
flat surface 22 is provided on the immediately downstream side of theposition 17B in which the third conveyingroller 56 is disposed, as described above. Owing to the provision of theflat surface 22, as shown inFIG. 17B , a direction or angle of the leading end portion of the recording sheet with respect to thestraight path section 67 is changed largely in the vicinity (that is marked by circle LC inFIG. 17B ) of an upstream end, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of theflat surface 22. That is, in the above-described first embodiment, the large change of the angle of the leading end portion of the recording sheet takes place in an early period of the stage of the conveyance from theposition 17B (in which the third conveyingroller 56 is disposed) to thestraight path section 67, and a rate of the change of the angle of the leading end portion of the recording sheet is gradually reduced as the leading end portion of the recording sheet is conveyed away from theposition 17B toward thestraight path section 67. Since the resistance or opposite force (acting in the direction opposite to the sheet conveyance direction) is generated based on the change of the angle of the leading end portion of the recording sheet, the recording sheet is conveyed by the sheet supplying roller 25 (rather than by the third conveying roller 56) until the large change of the angle of the leading end portion of the recording sheet has already taken place. The top face (onto which image is to be formed) of the recording sheet is not damaged by thesheet supplying roller 25 that is in contact with the bottom face of the recording sheet rather than with the top face of the recording sheet. - On the other hand, in an arrangement, as shown in
FIG. 17A , in which the entirety of theoutside guide surface 17A of theoutside guide member 17 is curved without provision of a flat portion in theoutside guide surface 17A, the large change of the angle of the leading end portion of the recording sheet takes place in a final or intermediate period (rather than in an early period) of the stage of the conveyance from the position (in which the third conveyingroller 56 is disposed) to thestraight path section 67, and the rate of the change of the angle of the leading end portion of the recording sheet is gradually increased as the leading end portion of the recording sheet is conveyed away from theposition 17B toward thestraight path section 67. Since the opposite force is generated based on the change of the angle of the leading end portion of the recording sheet, if the recording sheet is conveyed by the third conveying roller 56 (that is made of a rubber, for example) which is disposed outside of thesheet conveyance path 65 and which is in contact with the top face of the recording sheet, there is a risk that the top surface could be scratched or damaged. - Referring next to
FIGS. 8 , 9, 10, 11, 12A, 12B, 12C, 13, 14, 15, 16A and 16B, there will be described a second embodiment of the invention. It is noted that, in the following description, there will be used terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “front” and “rear” directions of acompound machine 210 which are directions as seen inFIG. 8 , and which are indicated by respective arrows “UP”, “DOWN”, “RIGHT”, “LEFT”, “FRONT” and “REAR” in the drawings. - As shown in
FIG. 8 , thecompound machine 210, which is an example of an image recording apparatus according to the invention, has a generally rectangular parallelepiped body with a low profile. Anoutside guide member 217 is provided in a rear portion of themachine 210, and a inkjet-type printer unit 211 is provided in a rear portion of themachine 210. Thecompound machine 210 has various functions such as facsimile and printer functions. In the present second embodiment, although theprinter unit 211 is capable of performing an one-side recording operation, theprinter unit 211 may be modified to have a function of performing a both-side recording operation. Theprinter unit 211 has ahousing body 214 in which a front opening (not shown) opens in its front face, so that a sheet supply tray 220 (as an example of a tray) and asheet exit tray 221 can be introduced into and removed from an inner space of themachine 210 via the opening, by moving thetrays arrows 208. In thesheet supply tray 220, recording sheets (as examples of sheets) of desired sizes can be held or stacked. It is noted thatarrows 207 indicate an up-down direction and thatarrows 209 indicate a right-left direction. - As shown in
FIG. 9 , theprinter unit 211 includes asheet supplying portion 215 configured to supply the recording sheets, and a recording portion 224 (as an example of a recording portion) configured to record image on each of the recording sheets by ejecting ink onto each recording sheet. Thus, theprinter unit 211 is configured to record, on the recording sheet, image based on a print data transmitted from an external device. It is noted that asheet guide member 273, a recessedportion 272 and a flat surface 222 (which will be described below) are not illustrated inFIG. 9 . - The
compound machine 210 includes a conveying device (as an example of a conveying device). The conveying device includes at least acurved path section 266, frames 271, ashaft 270, third conveyingrollers 256,pinch rollers 257,sheet guide members 273 and anoutside guide member 217, which are described below. Further, the conveying device may include astraight path section 267. - As shown in
FIG. 9 , thesheet supplying portion 215 is located on an upper side of thesheet supply tray 220. Thesheet supplying portion 215 includes a sheet supplying roller 225 (as an example of a supplying roller), apivotable arm 226 and a first drive-force transmitting mechanism 227 (as an example of a first transmission mechanism) that is constituted principally by a plurality of gears meshing with each other. Thesheet supplying roller 225 is held at its shaft by a distal end portion of thepivotable arm 226. Thepivotable arm 226 is pivotable about a shaft 228 (that is provided in a proximal end portion of the arm 226) in directions indicated byarrows 229. With pivot motion of thearm 226, thesheet supplying roller 225 can be brought into contact with thesheet supply tray 220 and can be separated from thesheet supply tray 220, namely, thesheet supplying roller 225 can be displaced toward and away from thesheet supply tray 220. Thus, thesheet supplying roller 225 can be brought into contact with the recording sheet held in thesheet supply tray 220. Thesheet supplying roller 225 is rotatable by a drive force that is transmitted from a second drive motor 302 (as an example of a drive source) (seeFIGS. 13 and 14 ) via the first drive-force transmitting mechanism 227. Thesheet supplying roller 225 is to be held in contact with an uppermost one of the recording sheets stacked in thesheet supply tray 220, and is configured to separate the uppermost sheet from the other sheets so as to supply the sheet to the curved path section 266 (as an example of a first conveyance path section and as an example of a curved conveyance path) of asheet conveyance path 265. - As shown in
FIG. 9 , theprinter unit 211 defines therein the sheet conveyance path 265 (as an example of a conveyance path) which is configured to guide the recording sheet to be conveyed from an end (i.e., rear end portion) of thesheet supply tray 220 to thesheet exit tray 221 via therecording portion 224. - The
sheet conveyance path 265 is sectioned into the above-describedcurved path section 266 extending from the end of thesheet supply tray 220 to first pairs ofrollers 258, and a straight path section 267 (as an example of a second or third conveyance path section and as an example of a straight path section) extending from the first pairs ofrollers 258 to thesheet exit tray 221 via a region right below therecording portion 224. That is, in thesheet conveyance path 265, thecurved path section 266 and thestraight path section 267 are disposed. - The
curved path section 266 is a curved path extending from a vicinity of the end of thesheet supply tray 220 to the first pairs of rollers 258 (i.e., to a position indicated by “P” inFIG. 9 ). While being in thecurved path section 266, the recording sheet is caused to be bent and guided so as to be conveyed curvedly along a sheet conveyance path (indicated by one-dot chain line inFIG. 9 ) in a sheet conveyance direction (indicated by arrows disposed on the one-dot chain line inFIG. 9 ). Thecurved path section 266 and thestraight path section 267 are connected to each other in the position P. Thus, the recording sheet is guided by thecurved path section 266 to thestraight path section 267 which is located on a downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of thecurved path section 266. Thecurved path section 266 is defined between aninside guide member 219 and anoutside guide member 217 which are opposed to each other and are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. In other words, thecurved path section 266 is defined between aninside guide surface 219A (as an example of an inside guide surface) and anoutside guide surface 217A (as an example of an outside guide surface) which are constituted by a rear surface of theinside guide member 219 and a front surface of theoutside guide member 217, respectively. - Like in the above-described first embodiment, in the present second embodiment, as shown in
FIGS. 10 and 17B , theoutside guide surface 217A includes a flat surface 222 (as an example of a sheet supporting portion constituted by a flat surface) which is provided on an immediately downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of a position in which the third conveyingroller 256 is disposed. It is noted that, in the present second embodiment, theoutside guide member 217 is pivotable so that a posture of theoutside guide member 217 is changeable, as described below. - The
straight path section 267 is a straight path extending in the front-rear direction 208 from the position P, i.e., a downstream end, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of thecurved path section 266 to thesheet exit tray 221. That is, thestraight path section 267 is contiguous to thecurved path section 266, and is located on a downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of thecurved path section 266. While being in thestraight path section 267, the recording sheet is caused to be guided so as to be conveyed straightly along the sheet conveyance path (indicated by two-dot chain line inFIG. 9 ) in the sheet conveyance direction (indicated by arrows disposed on the two-dot chain line inFIG. 9 ). After being subjected to a recording operation carried out by therecording portion 224, the sheet is discharged to thesheet exit tray 221. Therecording portion 224 faces a region of thestraight path section 267 which is defined between therecording portion 224 and aplaten 242 that are opposed to each other and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. Another region of thestraight path section 267, which therecording portion 224 does not face, is defined between an upper-side guide member 252 and a lower-side guide member 253 that are opposed to each other and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. - As shown in
FIGS. 8-10 , an outside guide member 217 (as an example of an outside guide member and as an example of a second member) is attached to a back face 216 (that is opposite to the front face) of thehousing body 214 of thecompound machine 210. Described specifically, as shown inFIG. 8 , arear opening 281 is provided to open in theback face 216 such that therear opening 281 is positioned in a position generally corresponding to a position of the above-described front opening of the front face of thehousing body 214. Theoutside guide member 217 is attached to theback face 216 such that therear opening 281 is closed by theoutside guide member 217. As described above, theoutside guide surface 217A is constituted by a front surface of theoutside guide member 217. - As shown in
FIG. 9 , theoutside guide member 217 is pivotable in directions indicated byarrows 279, about ashaft 286 which is located in vicinity of a lower end in the up-downdirection 207 and which extends in the right-left direction 209 (that is perpendicular to drawing sheet ofFIG. 9 ). With the pivot motion of theoutside guide member 217, the posture of theoutside guide member 217 is changeable so that theoutside guide member 217 takes selectively a closing posture (corresponding to a second posture) and an exposing posture (corresponding to a first posture). The closing posture is indicated by solid line inFIG. 9 and is shown byFIG. 10 . The exposing posture is indicated by broken line inFIG. 9 and is shown byFIG. 8 . - When the
outside guide member 217 takes the closing posture, theinside guide surface 219A, which defines thecurved path section 266, is covered by theoutside guide member 217 so as to be isolated from an exterior of thecompound machine 210. In this instance, theoutside guide surface 217A defines thecurved path section 266, so as to guide the recording sheet. On the other hand, when theoutside guide member 217 takes the exposing posture, theinside guide surface 219A is exposed to the exterior of thecompound machine 210 from a rear side of thecompound machine 210. In this instance, theoutside guide surface 217A is inclined backwardly, without defining thecurved path section 266, so as not to guide the recording sheet. That is, the recording sheet is guided by thecurved path section 266 when theoutside guide member 217 takes the closing posture. - As shown in
FIGS. 8 and 10 , a recessed portion 272 (as an example of a recessed portion) is provided in theoutside guide surface 217A of theoutside guide member 217 so as to extend in the right-left direction 209. The recessedportion 272 has a shape that allows the third conveyingrollers 256 and the shaft 270 (on which therollers 256 are mounted) to be received in the recessedportion 272. Thus, the third conveyingrollers 256 and theshaft 270 are not in contact with theoutside guide surface 217A, since the third conveyingrollers 256 and theshaft 270 are received in the recessedportion 272 when theoutside guide member 217 takes the closing posture. - It is noted that, in the present second embodiment, the posture of the
outside guide member 217 is changed by the pivot motion of theoutside guide member 217. However, the posture of theoutside guide member 217 may be changed by any other method. For example, theoutside guide member 217 may be arranged to take selectively the closing posture and the exposing posture, by selectively attaching and removing theoutside guide member 217 to and from thecompound machine 210. - As shown in
FIG. 9 , therecording portion 224 is disposed on an upper side of thestraight path section 267 of thesheet conveyance path 265. Therecording portion 224 includes arecording head 238 and acarriage 240 which carries therecording head 238 and which is to be reciprocated in a main scanning direction (i.e., direction perpendicular to drawing sheet ofFIG. 9 ). Therecording head 238 is configured to receive inks that are to be supplied from ink cartridges (not shown), and to eject the inks in the form of small ink droplets throughnozzles 239. With thecarriage 240 being reciprocated in the main scanning direction, therecording head 238 is caused to scan the recording sheet, whereby image is recorded onto the recording sheet which is supported on theplaten 242 while being conveyed along the sheet conveyance path. It is noted that theplaten 242 is disposed on a lower side of thestraight path section 267 and is opposed to therecording portion 224. - As shown in
FIG. 9 , the first pairs ofrollers 258 are disposed on an upstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of therecording portion 224. Each pair of the first pairs ofrollers 258 consist of a first conveyingroller 260 which is disposed on an upper side of the sheet conveyance path 265 (i.e., upper side of the straight path section 267) and apinch roller 261 which is disposed on a lower side of the sheet conveyance path 265 (i.e., lower side of the straight path section 267). Thepinch roller 261 is biased by a biasing member (not shown) such as a spring, and is held in pressing contact with a rolling surface of the first conveyingroller 260. The first pairs ofrollers 258 are configured to nip the recording sheet, and to feed the recording sheet onto theplaten 242. - Further, as shown in
FIG. 9 , second pairs ofrollers 259 are disposed on a downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of therecording portion 224. Each pair of the second pairs ofrollers 256 consist of a second conveyingroller 262 which is disposed on a lower side of the sheet conveyance path 265 (i.e., lower side of the straight path section 267) and a spur roller (rowel) 263 which is disposed on an upper side of the sheet conveyance path 265 (i.e., upper side of the straight path section 267). Thespur roller 263 is biased by a biasing member (not shown) such as a spring, and is held in pressing contact with a rolling surface of the second conveyingroller 262. The second pairs ofrollers 259 are configured to nip the recording sheet having passed therecording portion 224, and to convey the recording sheet to thesheet exit tray 221. - Each of the first and second conveying
rollers FIG. 14 ). When thefirst drive motor 303 is rotated in one of forward and reverse directions, the recording sheet is conveyed in the sheet conveyance direction. - As shown in
FIG. 9 , third pairs of rollers 255 (each pair of which is as an example of a pair of conveying rollers) are disposed on an upstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of the first pairs ofrollers 258. Each pair of the third pairs ofrollers 255 consist of a third conveying roller 256 (as an example of a drive roller and an example of a first roller) which is disposed on a side of theoutside guide surface 217A and a pinch roller 257 (as an example of a driven roller and an example of a second roller) which is disposed on a side of theinside guide surface 219A. Eachpinch roller 257 is opposed to the corresponding third conveyingrollers 256, and is biased by a biasing member (not shown) such as a spring so as to be held in pressing contact with a rolling surface of the corresponding third conveyingroller 256. The third pairs ofrollers 255 are configured to nip the recording sheet and to convey the recording sheet toward the first pairs ofrollers 258. - As shown in
FIG. 13 , thesheet supplying roller 225 is rotated when a rotary drive force is transmitted thereto from thesecond drive motor 302 via a transmission selector 310 (as an example of a transmission selector) and the first drive-force transmitting mechanism 227, namely, when thetransmission selector 310 selects the first drive-force transmitting mechanism 227 for thereby causing the rotary drive force to be transmitted via the selected first drive-force transmitting mechanism 227 to thesheet supplying roller 225. On the other hand, the third conveyingroller 256 is rotated when the rotary drive force is transmitted thereto from thesecond drive motor 302 via thetransmission selector 310 and a second drive-force transmitting mechanism 315 (as an example of a second transmission mechanism), namely, when thetransmission selector 310 selects the second drive-force transmitting mechanism 315 for thereby causing the rotary drive force to be transmitted via the selected second drive-force transmitting mechanism 315 to the third conveyingroller 256. It is noted that the second drive-force transmitting mechanism 315 is constituted by a plurality of gears meshing with each other. - The
transmission selector 310 includes asun gear 313 and aplanet gear 314. Thesun gear 313 meshes with anintermediate gear 244 that is configured to transmit the rotary drive force from thesecond drive motor 302. Theplanet gear 314 is to be rotated while being revolved around thesun gear 313. When thesecond drive motor 302 is rotated in a reverse direction (indicated byarrow 317 inFIG. 13 ), theplanet gear 314 is revolved around thesun gear 313 so as to be positioned in a position (indicated bybroken line 314 inFIG. 13 ) in which theplanet gear 314 is caused to mesh with one of the gears constituting the second drive-force transmitting mechanism 315. On the other hand, when thesecond drive motor 302 is rotated in a forward direction (indicated byarrow 316 inFIG. 3 ), theplanet gear 314 is revolved around thesun gear 313 so as to be positioned in a position (indicated bysolid line 314 inFIG. 13 ) in which theplanet gear 314 is caused to mesh with one of the gears constituting the first drive-force transmitting mechanism 227. Owing to this construction, thetransmission selector 310 is configured, when thesecond drive motor 302 is rotated in the forward direction, to transmit the rotary drive force from thesecond drive motor 302 to the sheet supplying roller 325, and is configured, when thesecond drive motor 302 is rotated in the reverse direction, to transmit the rotary drive force from thesecond drive motor 302 to the third conveyingroller 256. In other words, thetransmission selector 310 is configured to select, based on the direction of rotation of thesecond drive motor 302, one of the first and second drive-force transmitting mechanisms force transmitting mechanisms sheet supplying roller 225 and the third conveyingroller 256. - The third conveying
roller 256 is arranged to be freely rotatable in a state in which the rotary drive force is not transmitted thereto from thesecond drive motor 302, i.e., in a state in which theplanet gear 314 does not mesh with the gear of the second drive-force transmitting mechanism 315. Owing to this arrangement, the third conveyingroller 256 can be rotated together with conveyance of the recording sheet, when the recording sheet is further conveyed by thesheet supplying roller 225 after having been brought into contact with the third conveyingroller 256. - As shown in
FIG. 11 , a pair of frames 271 (as examples of support members) are disposed outside widthwise opposite ends of thecurved path section 266 of thesheet conveyance path 265 in the right-left direction 209. The shaft 270 (as an example of a shaft) of the third conveyingrollers 256 is supported in its opposite end portions in the right-left direction 209 by theframes 271. That is, theshaft 270 is disposed to extend in the right-left direction 209 (corresponding to a first direction) which is perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction and which is parallel to theinside guide surface 219A or theoutside guide surface 217A. - As shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10 , theshaft 270 is disposed on a side of theoutside guide surface 217A which is remote from thecurved path section 266 of thesheet conveyance path 265, namely, theshaft 270 is disposed in theoutside guide member 217. Further, a distance from theinside guide surface 219A to theshaft 270 is larger than a distance from theinside guide surface 219A to theoutside guide surface 217A, in a direction 277 (corresponding to a second direction and indicated by broken line with two arrows inFIG. 9 ) that is perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction and the right-left direction 209. That is, theshaft 270 is located in a position that is distant from theinside guide surface 219A than from theoutside guide surface 217A. - Further, as described above, the
shaft 270 is received in the recessed portion 72 when theoutside guide member 217 takes the closing posture. - As shown in
FIGS. 8 and 11 , the third conveyingrollers 256 are mounted on theshaft 270, and are rotatable about an axis of theshaft 270 together with theshaft 270. - The third conveying
rollers 256 are arranged and spaced apart from one another in the right-left direction 209. Thepinch rollers 257, which are opposed to the respective third conveyingrollers 256, are arranged and spaced apart from one another in the right-left direction 209. The number of thepinch rollers 257 is equal to the number of the third conveyingrollers 256. In the present second embodiment, the number of the third conveyingrollers 256 is six while the number of thepinch rollers 257 is also six. However, the number of the third conveyingrollers 256 and thepinch rollers 257 is not particularly limited. - The six third conveying
rollers 256 are not provided in opposite end portions (that are indicated by regions A inFIG. 11 ) of thecurved path section 266 of thesheet conveyance path 265 in the right-left direction 209. Rather, the six third conveyingrollers 256 are provided in an intermediate portion (that is indicated by a region B inFIG. 11 ) of thecurved path section 266 of thesheet conveyance path 265 in the right-left direction 209. - When the
outside guide member 217 takes the closing posture, as shown inFIG. 10 , a part of each of the third conveyingrollers 256 protrudes from the recessedportion 272, while most of each of the third conveyingrollers 256 is accommodated or received in the recessedportion 272, so that each of the third pairs ofrollers 255 is capable of conveying the recording sheet, by nipping the sheet in thecurved path section 266. - The
sheet supplying roller 225 is rotatable by a rotary drive force, which is transmitted from thesecond drive motor 302 via thetransmission selector 310 and the first drive-force transmitting mechanism 227 when thesecond drive motor 302 is rotated in the forward direction, namely, when thetransmission selector 310 selects the first drive-force transmitting mechanism 227. On the other hand, the third conveyingroller 256 is rotated when the rotary drive force is transmitted thereto from thesecond drive motor 302 via thetransmission selector 310 and the second drive-force transmitting mechanism 315. That is, the third conveyingroller 256 is rotated when thesecond drive motor 302 is rotated in a reverse direction, namely, when thetransmission selector 310 selects the second drive-force transmitting mechanism 315. It is noted that the second drive-force transmitting mechanism 315 is constituted principally by a plurality of gears meshing with each other, - As shown in
FIGS. 8 , 10 and 11, the sheet guide member 273 (as an example of a guide-surface member) is disposed on each of opposite end portions (that are indicated by regions A inFIG. 11 ) of theshaft 270 in the right-left direction 209. The opposite end portions of theshaft 270 are portions of theshaft 270 on which the third conveyingrollers 56 are not disposed. Described more precisely, thesheet guide member 273 is disposed in a portion of the region A which is in proximity with thecorresponding frame 271. It is noted that thesheet guide member 273 does not have to be disposed only in the portion of the region A which is close to thecorresponding frame 271, but may be disposed in an entirety of the region A. - The
sheet guide member 273, as being disposed on theshaft 270, has a shape that is symmetrical in the right-left direction 209. Further, thesheet guide member 273 is disposed to extend along the sheet conveyance path, from the vicinity of a downstream end, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of thecurved path section 266, to the vicinity of an upstream end, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of thestraight path section 267. - As shown in
FIGS. 12A and 12B , theshaft 270 passes through a through-hole 275 that is provided in thesheet guide member 273, such that thesheet guide member 273 is not rotatable together with theshaft 270 but is rotatable independently of theshaft 270. However, as described below, thesheet guide member 273 is arranged to be unrotatable. - As shown in
FIG. 12C , a protrudingportion 276 is provided to protrude from an outside portion of theinside guide member 219 which is located outside thecurved path section 266 of thesheet conveyance path 265 in the right-left direction 209, toward thecurved path section 266. Meanwhile, two recessedportions sheet guide member 273 in the right-left direction 209. The protrudingportion 276 is introduced in the recessedportion 287 as an outside one of the two recessedportions left direction 209. Further, as shown inFIG. 12B , each of the recessedportions second contact portions - Owing to the provision of the
first contact portion 289, when thesheet guide member 273 is caused to be rotated in a direction indicated by anarrow 291, this rotation of thesheet guide member 273 is prevented by contact of thefirst contact portion 289 with the protrudingportion 276. Owing to the provision of thesecond contact portion 290, when thesheet guide member 273 is caused to be rotated in a direction indicated by anarrow 292, this rotation of thesheet guide member 273 is prevented by contact of thesecond contact portion 290 with the protrudingportion 276. - Further, when the
sheet guide member 273 is caused to be slidingly moved in the right-left direction 209, this slide movement of thesheet guide member 273 is prevented by contact of the protrudingportion 276 with a side surface of the recessedportion 287 in the of the right-left direction 209, as shown inFIG. 12C . Thus, owing to the contact of the protrudingportion 276 with the side surface of the recessedportion 287, thesheet guide member 273 is positioned in a predetermined position in the right-left direction 209. - When the
outside guide member 217 takes the exposing posture, thesheet guide member 273 is movable in the direction 277 (seeFIG. 9 ). On the other hand, when theoutside guide member 217 takes the closing posture, thesheet guide member 273 is forced, by theoutside guide member 217, to be positioned in a position that is located in the innermost end of a movable range over which thesheet guide member 273 is movable in thedirection 277, namely, in a position that is located in an end of the movable range which is close to theinside guide member 219. Thus, when theoutside guide member 217 takes the closing posture, thesheet guide member 273 is unmovable in thedirection 277 and is positioned in the above-described position in thedirection 277. - The rotation of the
sheet guide member 273, the slide movement of thesheet guide member 273 in the right-left direction 209 and the movement of thesheet guide member 273 in thedirection 277 do not have to be prevented necessarily by the above-described arrangements but may be prevented by arrangements other than the above-described arrangements. - As shown in
FIGS. 10 and 12A , thesheet guide member 273, which is disposed on theshaft 270, has a sheet guide surface 274 (as an example of a sheet guide surface) that faces thecurved path section 266 of thesheet conveyance path 265. - The
sheet guide surface 274 includescurved surface portions 274A (as examples of first curved surface portions) and acurved surface portion 274B (as an example of a second curved surface portion) which extend along thesheet conveyance path 265. Each of thecurved surface portions sheet guide surface 274 has a curved shape identical with a curved shape of the major part of theoutside guide surface 217A (i.e., a curved shape of theoutside guide surface 217A except the flat surface 222). - As shown in
FIG. 11 , thesheet guide member 273 includes a pair ofcurved portions 283 which are located in opposite end portions of thesheet guide member 273 in the right-left direction 209. Each of thecurved portions 283 has a shape that is symmetrical in the right-left direction 209. Further, the twocurved portions 283 are located in respective positions which are symmetrical with respect to a center of thesheet guide member 273 in the right-left direction 209. The above-describedcurved surface portions 274A of thesheet guide surface 274 are constituted by surfaces of the respectivecurved portions 283 which face thecurved path section 266 of thesheet conveyance path 265. - Further, as shown in
FIG. 11 , thesheet guide member 273 includes acurved portion 284 which is located in a central portion of thesheet guide member 273 in the right-left direction 209. Thecurved portion 284 includes a protrudingportion 282 protruding toward the straight path section 267 (seeFIGS. 12 A, 12B) and having a distal end that is located on a downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of each of thecurved portions 283. Thecurved portion 284 has a shape that is symmetrical in the right-left direction 209. The above-describedcurved surface portion 274B of thesheet guide surface 274 are constituted by a surface of thecurved portion 284 which face thecurved path section 66 of thesheet conveyance path 265. - In the present second embodiment, the
curved surface portions 274A and thecurved surface portion 274B of thesheet guide surface 274 lie on the same surface. That is, a central portion of the sheet guide surface 74 extends to a position that is located on a downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of a position to which opposite end portions of thesheet guide surface 274 extend. However, thecurved surface portions 274A and thecurved surface portion 274B of thesheet guide surface 274 may lie on different surfaces. In this modification, each of thecurved surface portions 274A is constituted by a curved rectangular surface while thecurved surface portion 274B is constituted by a curved rectangular surface having a downstream end that is located on a downstream side of a downstream end of the curved rectangular surface of each of thecurved surface portions 274A, so that the sheet guide surface 74 is constituted by the three curved rectangular surfaces of thecurved surface portions 274A and thecurved surface portion 274B. - Further, a distance from the
inside guide surface 219A to thesheet guide surface 274 is shorter than a distance from theinside guide surface 219A to theshaft 270 in the direction 277 (seeFIG. 9 ). In the present second embodiment, thesheet guide member 273 is located such that the distance from theinside guide surface 219A to thesheet guide surface 274 is larger than a distance from theinside guide surface 219A to theoutside guide member 217. Thus, thesheet guide member 273 has thesheet guide surface 274 that is closer to theinside guide surface 219A than theshaft 270. In other words, the distance between theinside guide surface 219A and thesheet guide surface 274 is smaller than the distance between theinside guide surface 219A and theshaft 270. - It is noted that the
sheet guide member 273 may be disposed such that the distance from theinside guide surface 219A to thesheet guide surface 274 is equal to the distance from the distance from theinside guide surface 219A to theoutside guide member 217. - As shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10 , a major part of theoutside guide surface 217A of theoutside guide member 217 is curved to define thecurved path section 266. However, as shown inFIGS. 10 and 17B , the flat surface 222 (as an example of a sheet supporting portion constituted by a flat surface) is provided on an immediately downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of a position in which the third conveyingroller 256 is disposed. - The
flat surface 222 may extend from the position of the third conveyingroller 256 either to a downstream end, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of thecurved path section 266, or to a midway position located on an upstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of the downstream end of thecurved path section 266. In the present first embodiment, theflat surface 222 is constituted by a portion of theoutside guide surface 217A, which extends from the position of the third conveyingroller 256 to a position that is substantially the center between the third pairs ofrollers 255 and the first pairs ofrollers 258. Meanwhile, theoutside guide surface 217A includes a curved portion that is located on a downstream side, as viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, of the position that is substantially the center between the third pairs ofrollers 255 and the first pairs ofrollers 258. - The
flat surface 222 extends from the position of the third conveyingroller 256 in a forward and upward direction. Described specifically, a front end portion (i.e., a downstream end portion) of theflat surface 222 is located on an upper side of a rear end portion (i.e., an upstream end portion) of theflat surface 222. In other words, a height position of theflat surface 222 is increased as theflat surface 222 extends forwardly. Theoutside guide surface 217A includes, in addition to the sheet supporting portion in the form of theflat surface 222, an upstream-side non-flat portion and an downstream-side non-flat portion which are located on upstream and downstream sides of theflat surface 222, wherein a direction of a tangent line tangent to theoutside guide surface 217A is changed at a boundary between theflat surface 222 and the downstream-side non-flat portion by a degree smaller than a degree by which the direction of the tangent line is changed at a boundary between theflat surface 222 and the upstream-side non-flat portion. - The
printer unit 211 has a judging portion (as an example of a judging portion) including a detector (as an example of a leading-end-portion detector) and a rotary encoder 322 (as an example of a rotation-amount detector). The detector is configured to detect a leading end portion of the sheet which has been supplied from thesheet supply tray 220 and which is being conveyed along thecurved path section 266. Therotary encoder 322 is configured to detect an amount of rotation of thesheet supplying roller 225. It is noted that the judging portion and the detector are identical with the judgingportion 120 and thedetector 121 in the above-described first embodiment so that redundant descriptions thereof will not be provided. - As shown in
FIG. 14 , the controllingportion 330 is configured to control activations of the entirety of thecompound machine 210. The controllingportion 330 is a microcomputer constituted principally byCPU 331,ROM 332,RAM 333,EEPROM 334 andASIC 335 which are connected to one another via aninternal bus 337. Since the controllingportion 330,CPU 331,ROM 332,RAM 333,EEPROM 334 andASIC 335 are identical in function with the controllingportion 130,CPU 131,ROM 132,RAM 133,EEPROM 134 andASIC 135 in the above-described first embodiment, redundant descriptions thereof will not be provided. - In the
printer unit 211 constructed as described above, the controllingportion 330 is configured to execute a conveyance control routine as shown inFIG. 15 , for supplying a recording sheet and conveying the recording sheet along thesheet conveyance path 265. Since the conveyance control routine ofFIG. 15 is substantially identical with the conveyance control routine ofFIG. 6 in the above-described first embodiment, description thereof will not be provided. - In the above-described second embodiment, the recording sheet can be conveyed in the sheet conveyance direction by the third conveying
rollers 256 and thepinch rollers 257 which cooperate to nip the recording sheet. Since the third conveyingrollers 256 are disposed in respective positions that correspond to a non-end portion or central portion of the recording sheet in the right-left direction 209, it is possible to prevent the recording sheet from being conveyed in a direction inclined with respect to the sheet conveyance direction. The recording sheet, which is conveyed along thesheet conveyance path 265, is not nipped at its widthwise opposite end portions by the third conveyingroller 256 and thepinch rollers 257. - Further, in the above-described second embodiment, since the third pairs of
rollers 255 are located in thecurved path section 266, the widthwise opposite end portions of the recording sheet, which are not nipped by the third conveyingroller 56 and thepinch rollers 57, are inclined outwardly toward theoutside guide surface 217A, so that the recording sheet has a shallow U shape in its cross section that is perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction. Thus, each of the widthwise opposite end portions of the recording sheet, which is inclined by a given degree, is likely to be brought into contact with theshaft 270 so that there is a risk that the recoding sheet could be folded or broken. However, in the above-described second embodiment, thesheet guide members 273 are provided for enabling the widthwise opposite end portions of the recording sheet to be guided by the sheet guide surfaces 274 of the respectivesheet guide members 273. Thus, it is possible to prevent the widthwise opposite end portions of the recording sheet from being brought into contact with theshaft 270. - Further, in the above-described second embodiment, the
shaft 270 is attached to the unrotatable frames 271, rather than to the pivotableoutside guide member 217, so that theshaft 270 is not moved in a state in which the recording sheet is nipped between the third conveyingroller 56 and thepinch roller 57, whereby the accuracy of the conveyance of the recording sheet can be satisfactorily maintained. Further, when the recording sheet is jammed in thecurved path section 266, the jammed sheet can be removed by causing theoutside guide member 217 to take the exposing posture. In this instance, the recording sheet can be easily removed, since thesheet guide members 273 are disposed only in respective opposite end positions in the right-left direction 209. - Further, in the above-described second embodiment, the
sheet guide surface 274 is located in a position outside of theoutside guide surface 217A, namely, in a position closer to outside of thecompound machine 210 as compared with the position of theoutside guide surface 217A. It is therefore possible to reduce a possibility that a resistance is applied from thesheet guide surface 274 to the recording sheet, when the recording sheet is being conveyed along thecurved path section 266 while being guided by theoutside guide surface 217A. - Further, in the above-described second embodiment, the recording sheet is guided to be conveyed along the
straight path section 267 of thesheet conveyance path 265, after having passed thecurved path section 266 of thesheet conveyance path 265. Thesheet guide surface 274 extends from thecurved path section 266 to thestraight path section 267, so that thesheet guide surface 274 is capable of guiding the recording sheet continuously from thecurved path section 266 to thestraight path section 267. Consequently, the accuracy of the conveyance of the recording sheet can be satisfactorily maintained. - Further, in the above-described second embodiment, the
sheet guide members 273 are disposed on the respective opposite end portions of theshaft 270 in the right-left direction 209. Each of thesheet guide members 273 has a shape that is symmetrical in the right-left direction 209, so that two identical members in the form of thesheet guide members 273 can be attached to the respective opposite end portions of theshaft 270. In other words, the twosheet guide members 273 do not have to be constituted by two different members so as to be attached to the respective opposite end portions of theshaft 270. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of kinds of members that are to be used in the conveying device. Further, it is possible to simplify a process of manufacturing the conveying device. - Further, in the above-described second embodiment, the
shaft 270 is attached to theframes 271 that are not pivotable rather than to theoutside guide member 217 that is pivotable. Owing to this arrangement, theshaft 270 is not moved even when the recording sheet is nipped between the third conveyingroller 256 and thepinch roller 257, whereby the accuracy of the conveyance of the recording sheet can be satisfactorily maintained. Consequently, it is possible to satisfactorily maintain the quality of image which is recorded on the recording sheet by therecording portion 224. - Further, like in the first embodiment, in the above-described second embodiment, the recording sheet is conveyed by the
sheet supplying roller 225 when the opposite force acting in the direction opposite to the sheet conveyance direction is large, and the recording sheet is conveyed by the third pairs ofrollers 255 when the opposite force is small. It is therefore possible to reduce a possibility that the rolling surfaces of the respective third conveyingrollers 256 would slip on the surface of the recording sheet. Consequently, the quality of the image recorded on the recording sheet by therecording portion 224 can be satisfactorily maintained. - Each of the
inside guide surface 219A and theoutside guide surface 217A may be constituted by either a single surface or a plurality of surfaces. In an arrangement where each of the guide surfaces 219A, 217A is constituted by a plurality of surfaces, for example, a plurality of ribs (as examples of ribs) may be provided to extend along thesheet conveyance path 265 and protrude from theinside guide surface 219A and/or theoutside guide surface 217A toward the sheet conveyance path 265 (as shown inFIGS. 16A and 16B ). In this arrangement, distal end faces of the respective ribs constitute respective surfaces, so that theinside guide surface 219A and/or theoutside guide surface 217A are constituted by the plurality of surfaces. - In this modification 1, the plurality of ribs are not provided in positions, in the right-
left direction 209, in which thesheet guide members 273 are provided. In other words, each of thesheet guide members 273 is disposed between adjacent two of the ribs in the right-left direction 209. - It is noted that some of the plurality of ribs may be provided with recessed portions so that the ribs can be disposed in the positions in which the
sheet guide members 273 are provided. In this case, the ribs which are provided with the recessed portions are disposed in the positions in which thesheet guide members 273 are provided. - In this modification 1, since the
outside guide surface 217A are constituted by the plurality of ribs, it is possible to reduce a contact area of the recording sheet that is to be in contact with the outside guide surface 217A., so that the recording sheet can be easily conveyed along thecurved path section 266. - In the above-described second embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 12C , the protrudingportion 276 is provided in theinside guide surface 219A, while the recessedportion 287 is provided in thesheet guide member 273, so that thesheet guide member 273 is positioned in a predetermined position in the right-left direction 209 by engagement of the protrudingportion 276 with the recessedportion 287. However, this arrangement may be modified as follows: - In the modification 2, as shown in
FIG. 12C , thesheet guide member 273 is supported by theframe 271, owing to an arrangement in which aleft side surface 273A (i.e., outside surface as viewed in the right-left direction 209) of thesheet guide member 273 is in contact with theframe 271. Further, when theoutside guide member 217 takes the closing posture, aright side surface 273B (i.e., inside surface as viewed in the right-left direction 209) of thesheet guide member 273 is in contact with a side surface (not shown), as viewed in the right-left direction 209, of the recessedportion 272 of theoutside guide member 217. Thus, thesheet guide member 273 is sandwiched between theframe 271 and the side surface of the recessedportion 272 of theoutside guide member 217, so as to be positioned in a predetermined position in the right-left direction 209. - If the
outside guide member 217 is moved when the recording sheet is in contact with theoutside guide member 217, the accuracy of the conveyance of the recording sheet could be reduced. However, in this modification 2, when theoutside guide member 217 takes the closing posture, thesheet guide member 273 is in contact at its one-side surface with theframe 271, whereby the movement of thesheet guide member 273 in the right-left direction 209 is limited. Further, thesheet guide member 273 is in contact with theoutside guide member 217, so as to be positioned in a predetermined position in thedirection 277. Thus, the accuracy of the conveyance of the recording sheet can be satisfactorily maintained. - On the other hand, when the
outside guide member 217 takes the exposing posture, thesheet guide member 273 is not in contact with theoutside guide member 217 so that thesheet guide member 273 is movable in the right-left direction 209. Therefore, when the recording sheet is jammed in thecurved path section 266, the recording sheet can be easily removed. - In the above-described second embodiment, the
sheet guide member 273 has a configuration as shown inFIGS. 10 , 11, 12A, 12B and 12C. The configuration of thesheet guide member 273 is not limited to the above detail, as long as the configuration enables thesheet guide member 273 to guide the recording sheet. For example, thesheet guide member 273 may be constituted by at least one roller which is freely rotatably held by a shaft.
Claims (16)
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JP2010-216007 | 2010-09-27 | ||
JP2010-216010 | 2010-09-27 | ||
JP2010216007A JP5648394B2 (en) | 2010-09-27 | 2010-09-27 | Conveying apparatus and image recording apparatus |
JP2010216010A JP5659662B2 (en) | 2010-09-27 | 2010-09-27 | Image recording device |
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US20120074637A1 true US20120074637A1 (en) | 2012-03-29 |
US8262079B2 US8262079B2 (en) | 2012-09-11 |
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US13/075,924 Active US8262079B2 (en) | 2010-09-27 | 2011-03-30 | Image recording apparatus with sheet conveyance path |
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Cited By (1)
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CN108482761A (en) * | 2018-03-21 | 2018-09-04 | 芜湖恒耐特传动设备有限公司 | A kind of packaging bag segmentation carrying method |
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JP5760671B2 (en) * | 2011-05-13 | 2015-08-12 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | Transport device |
JP5874346B2 (en) * | 2011-11-25 | 2016-03-02 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | Conveying apparatus and image recording apparatus |
JP6772555B2 (en) * | 2016-05-27 | 2020-10-21 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Recording device |
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